Why do we think things are "cute"?

[Yama]

Why do humans think things are cute? What qualifies as cute? Small animals? Babies? Why? I love cute shit but what even the hecky is the science behind cuteness?

 

[Obfuscate]

Why Do We Want To Squeeze Cute Things? | Popular Science

 

[Rebeka]

i don't really know because my mothertongue is spanish, so cannot deal as much with the concept of "cute" in everyday speech so as to give you answer XD, but i'd say that it points to charming things in general, an easy way to relate to charm without falling into overthinking XD

 

[Norrsken]

I guess we equate cute with innocence and we all like a bit of purity sometimes.
Kinda like them Hayao Miyazaki films. ^-^

 

[Lord Lavender]

To me cuteness is something that stirs up a parental instinct in someone. To me myself cuteness is something that reminds you of something young like big eyes, helpfulness, big head and a adorable face. Basically a kitten,baby or puppy in one. Interesting about the fact that people get frustrated about looking at cute photos and not being able to access the cute thing.

 

[Yuurei]

I do not find things like babies, kittens or tiny dogs cute. Things that are weak and helpless disgust me.
...but I do like puppies. They tend to be more playful and...bitey.

Most of the things that I consider cute..are more like Stitch ( from Lilo and Stitch) or Gaulem from LotR.

 

[Kas]

If you ask for reason, I think generally we find cute as you've written children, small animals like puppies - because they are vulnerable. So I guess we are "programmed" to have emotional reaction which cause us to be protective and provides them bigger chances of survival.

 

[Obsidius]

We're biologically programmed to think things are cute which have similar characteristics to babies. For example: round, big eyes and head relative to body size, helplessness, small etc.

 

[Coriolis]

Why do humans think things are cute? What qualifies as cute? Small animals? Babies? Why? I love cute shit but what even the hecky is the science behind cuteness?

I don't know. Perhaps they lack the proper frame of mind for making a more substantive characterization?

 

[magpie]

I don't know. Perhaps they lack the proper frame of mind for making a more substantive characterization?

How would you characterize an adorable tiny floofy kitten with a little pink tongue and toebeans?

 

[prplchknz]

because they are

 

[Coriolis]

How would you characterize an adorable tiny floofy kitten with a little pink tongue and toebeans?

I wouldn't.

Unless it were underfoot; then I would call it a nuisance.

 

[Yama]

I wouldn't.

Unless it were underfoot; then I would call it a nuisance.

What adjective would you use to describe this that isn't an obvious characteristic like "brown"?

 

[Coriolis]

What adjective would you use to describe this that isn't an obvious characteristic like "brown"?

That depends on my purpose in describing it. I can see no obvious reason for me to do so, or to be talking about it at all.

 

[Yama]

That depends on my purpose in describing it. I can see no obvious reason for me to do so, or to be talking about it at all.

For science, Coriolis. For psychology. For an independent research project. Because I asked you to. One of those. Pleeeeease?

 

[Tater]

For science, Coriolis. For psychology. For an independent research project. Because I asked you to. One of those. Pleeeeease?

cute... or...?

 

[Forever]

Because it enables our instinct to protect

 

[prplchknz]

What adjective would you use to describe this that isn't an obvious characteristic like "brown"?

adorable. and it's white not brown

 

[Red Herring]

We're biologically programmed to think things are cute which have similar characteristics to babies. For example: round, big eyes and head relative to body size, helplessness, small etc.

Exactly. When I went to school we were taught about Konrad Lorenz and the "baby schema" (Kindchenschema) in biology class.

Cuteness - Wikipedia

Cuteness is a subjective term describing a type of attractiveness commonly associated with youth and appearance, as well as a scientific concept and analytical model in ethology, first introduced by Konrad Lorenz.[2] Lorenz proposed the concept of baby schema (Kindchenschema), a set of facial and body features, that make a creature appear "cute" and activate ("release") in others the motivation to care for it.[3] Cuteness may be ascribed to people as well as things that are regarded as attractive or charming.[4]

But of course culture also plays a big part how that is treated and valued. Think of the massive role the concept of kawaii plays in Japanese culture!

 

[Yama]

adorable. and it's white not brown

white belly brown/tan back; looks like a robo dwarf but it might be a syrian